We are a group of scientists tackling fundamental questions in cell biology. We are looking for motivated, creative, fun, positive people. If this is you, then we encourage you to learn more about joining us!
Jason E. Lee, PhD
Principal Investigator
Jason received his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He completed his PhD training with Pravin Sehgal at New York Medical College studying the dependence of Golgi function on nitric oxide in the context of pulmonary arterial hypertension. After his PhD, Jason trained as a postdoctoral fellow with Gia Voeltz at the University of Colorado, Boulder studying organelle division and inter-organelle contact sites. Since July 2020, Jason has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM). During his career, Jason has received several honors, including Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral and Postdoctoral Awards from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute of the NIH, and a CPRIT Scholar Award. Outside of the lab, Jason enjoys surfing, playing soccer and baseball, traveling with his family, and watching his daughter learn new things everyday. PubMed | Twitter
Postdoctoral Fellows
Joshua Marcus, PhD
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) T32 Postdoc Josh received his BS in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Colorado Boulder. There, under the mentorship of James Orth, he studied the cell cycle effects of nuclear export inhibition as a cancer therapeutic. He completed his PhD training with Shaida Andrabi at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studying the effects of oxidative stress on the RNA-binding protein TDP43 in neurons. He started his postdoc in our lab at the beginning of September 2021 and studying biomolecular condensate quality control mechanisms associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Outside the lab, Josh enjoys hiking, live music, and spending time with his family who are local to Houston.
Graduate Students
Noah Powell
Cancer and Cell Biology PhD candidate – Noah is originally from Santa Clarita, California and recently graduated from Ohio University with his BS in Cell/Molecular Biology in 2022. There, under the mentorship of Kevin Lee, he studied cellular heterogeneity in non-classical adipose tissues, with respect to their contributions toward obesity and type II diabetes. Noah enrolled in the Cancer and Cell Biology Graduate Program at Baylor College of Medicine in August 2021, and joined our lab in March 2022 to begin his PhD training. Outside of the lab, Noah enjoys playing racquetball, baseball, and board games with his friends and family.
Research Technicians
Zachary Ralston
Zach is originally from Salinas, California and recently graduated with a BA in Molecular Biology from Claremont Mckenna College. He was a student-athlete that balanced playing for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps football team and pursuing his research interests in the laboratory of Zhaohua Irene Tang. In the Tang Lab, Zach worked with fission yeast (S. Pombe) to study relationships between heterochromatin modulation, RNA processing, cell cycle regulation, and cell death. Outside of academia, Zach enjoys hiking, playing basketball, cooking, playing with cats, and volunteering in the community.
Paola Onate Colobon
Paola is originally from Colombia and a recent graduate with a BS in Biochemistry and Biology from the University of Oklahoma. As an international student, Paola gained research experience by participating in multiple projects within the Departments of Chemistry and Biochemistry, as well as Microbiology and Plant Biology. As a summer intern at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation under the mentorship of Dr. Roberto Pezza, she worked with genetically modified mice to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind double-strand breaks (DSBs) in meiotic cells. Her long-term goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, and her areas of interest are Tumor Biology and Immunology. Outside of her professional life, Paola enjoys cooking, yoga, and traveling.
Leyla Fahim
Leyla is originally from Houston and received her bachelor’s in physics from Bryn Mawr College in 2018 under the mentorship of Dr. David Schaffner contributing to projects involving the study of plasma physics, turbulence, and fusion energy. After working as a research assistant at Cemvita Factory, Leyla went on to receive her master’s in bioengineering from Rice University in 2022. There, she studied the unfolded protein response in mammalian cells in Dr. Laura Segatori’s lab and worked to develop a genetic circuit which allows for the stable, small molecule-controlled production of recombinant proteins in HEK293 cells. Outside of the lab, Leyla enjoys hiking, gardening, and spending time with her pets.
J. Lee Lab 